Crossposted from iLoveMountains.org
Residents of the Coal River Valley, accompanied by supporters from across Appalachia, took a stand this morning against the impending destruction of their mountain in the name of coal. Five activists chained themselves to an excavator and a bulldozer at the Massey operation near Pettus, West Virginia.
Beginning at 11 a.m., demonstrators will be blocking access to the roads that Massey Energy's equipment will use to prepare Coal River Mountain for blasting beginning this morning. Others will be peacefully (and legally) protesting the blasting nearby on a public roadway. A rally will be held at 1:00 p.m. today.
The slogan displayed on the protesters' banner "Windmills Not Toxic Spills," stems from residents' and activists' concern over the safety of Massey's plans for blasting, which include sites over former underground mines beside a nine billion gallon sludge dam full of toxic coal waste.
"I fear for my friends and all the people living below this coal sludge dam," said Gary Anderson, who lives near the site. "Blasting beside the dam, over underground mines, could decimate the valley for miles. The 'experts' said that the Buffalo Creek sludge dam was safe, but it failed. They said that the TVA sludge dam was safe, but it failed. Massey is setting up an even greater catastrophe here."
As an alternative, residents are advocating for a wind farm on the site as it would provide clean, renewable energy and long-term jobs.
"The governor and county legislators have failed to act, so we're acting for them," said activist Rory McIlmoil, who has led the Coal River Wind campaign. "They can't allow the wind potential on Coal River Mountain to be destroyed, and the nearby communities endangered, for only 17 years of coal," McMoil said, adding that "there is a better way to develop the mountain and strengthen the local economy that will create lasting jobs and tax revenues for this county, and that's with wind power."
Their concerns about their safety and the reality of the alternatives are well documented. A 2008 report by the federal Office of Surface Mining revealed serious deficiencies in the WVDEP's regulation of coal waste dams. The Coal River Wind Project relies on wind studies, and economic analyses of the benefits of wind vs. mountaintop removal for the community. The project received the 2008 Building Economic Alternatives Award from Co-op America.
"We can't sit by while Massey jeopardizes the lives and homes of thousands of people," said Vernon Haltom of Naoma. "Governor Manchin and the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection have proven that they are unwilling to protect the citizens. What do they expect us to do? Will they wait until we're in body bags to take this threat seriously?" In November, WVDEP approved a permit revision allowing Massey to begin the mountaintop removal operation. Despite citizens' objections, DEP denied public participation in its decision process.
"We need to stop the madness and stop Massey from blowing up our beautiful mountain," resident Gary Andersen adds. "We need to go with the better energy option, and that's a wind farm, which is perfect for Coal River Mountain. We could have a green energy future for the country, starting right here."
For updates, photos and video footage, go to http://climategroundzero.org
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin's office can be reached at 1-888-438-2731, or you can contact his office online using our simple web form to email the governor.